A site dedicated to information and discussion about the history of aviation and aeroplanes in Japan and the Far East.
日本と東洋の航空史と航空機に関する専門サイト。皆様からの情報やコメントをお待ちしてます。（日本語でも可）

Sunday, 10 November 2013

Climb and Follow ~ Defeating the Beehive Part One

The facsimile memorandum below is a copy of a document issued by Claire Lee Chennault in the late summer of 1942. Although by that time the China Air Task Force (CATF) had already been formed the memorandum is still headed as being from the Headquarters of the Officer Commanding the First American Volunteer Group. The Japanese aircraft fighter types being engaged over China during 1942 were the Type 97 fighter (Ki-27 'Nate'), Type 1 Fighter (Ki-43 Hayabusa "Oscar'), the latter a relatively recent arrival but increasing in numbers, and to a fairly limited extent the Type 2 two-seater fighter (Ki-45 Toryu 'Nick'). The "beehive" referred to was essentially a multi-tiered Lufberry circle often flown above escorted bomber formations as much to maintain contact with the slower aircraft below as to provide an aggressive-defensive posture towards intercepting aircraft.

The CATF pre-dated the 14th Air Force and existed from July 1942 to March 1943. The nucleus of units under command consisted of the 74th, 75th and 76th Fighter Squadrons of the 23rd Fighter Group and the 16th Fighter Squadron all equipped with the Curtiss P-40, the 9th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (formerly the 9th Photographic Squadron), officially equipped with the F-4 variant of the P-38 but prior to formal deployment operating ad hoc within the CATF with various modified P-40 aircraft including some P-40G variants according to Malcolm Rosholt*, and the 11th Bombardment Squadron equipped with the B-25 Mitchell medium bomber.

Japanese fighter units in China at around the same time consisted of the 10th Dokuritsu Hiko Chutai (DHC - Independent Air Squadron) and 54th Sentai (FR - Flying Regiment), both equipped with the Type 97, and the 24th Sentai equipped with the Type 1. The 10th DHC was expanded to two Chutai strength to become the 25th Sentai in November 1942, at the same time completing a transition to the Type 1 fighter (Ki-43-I) which had begun in May. It was expanded again to full three Chutai strength during the Spring of 1943. The 24th Sentai spent a relatively short time in China, arriving at Canton in July 1942 and leaving for Sumatra in September at the same time as the withdrawn 54th Sentai. The 33rd Sentai arrived the same month, newly equipped with the Type 1 fighter. In addition to these China-based fighter units other Japanese units staged into China throughout this period for specific operations from Indo-China, Thailand and Burma. The table below illustrates the China-based deployments.

A Member of PAHWA

PAWHA is an international organisation representing a collective of researchers and authors from all walks of life, who collaborate with each other on their niche expertise in all areas and specialties of the Pacific war. Its alumni include about 50 members, mainly recognised authors and researchers. As multinational historians PAWHA members preserve a unanimous desire for objectivity and veritas. The PAWHA insignia represents the Southern Cross, signifying the skies of the Pacific. It was designed by Don Marsh.

Contact 'Straggler'

Translate

Aviation Graphic

Aviation Graphic offers high quality aviation art prints, including the Japanese aircraft profiles of Ronnie Olsthoorn. These beautiful large scale prints are the best way to appreciate the very fine detail.

Arawasi

Recommended for the best in Japanese aviation resources, magazines, books, kits and decals.

j-aircraft.com

Japanese Aircraft, Ships & Historical Research

Lifelike Decals

1/48th & 1/72nd Japanese Subjects!

Bestfong Decals

Large range of Chinese Air Forces decals for many different aircraft types in 1/144th, 1/72nd and 1/48th scales

Rising Decals

1/72nd Japanese Subjects!

Tets Research Institute

Exceptional Modelling

International Visitors to this Blog

Model Aircraft Pics Welcome!

Please show your pics of Japanese, Chinese or other Far Eastern model aircraft here where they will remain in the archive and be appreciated by dedicated Japanese aircraft enthusiasts from 203 different countries!
Email me with your pics

Painting The Early Zero-Sen

Japanese Armour Colours - A Primer

All Comments Welcome - Please Read Before Posting

You don't need a Google username and password to make comments on the posts. To add a comment just click on "comments" at the bottom of each post. A pop-up shows the comments already made with a box to add your own comment. Ignore the Google Username and Password boxes and select "Name/URL" instead. A box will open where you can enter your name and then publish your comment. All comments are moderated and therefore may not appear immediately. Anonymous comments will not be posted, however meritorious.

About Me

I first became fascinated by aviation in the Far East at the age of about 7 when my father lifted me into the cockpit of an 'Ohka' rocket-propelled piloted suicide bomb displayed outside the armoury at RAF Cottesmore. It made me think about the people who had designed and built such a weapon . . . and why . . . but especially those who were prepared to fly it - and those who had to face it.